updated 12:45 pm EDT, Thu March 20, 2008

Amazon Kindle Shortage

Amazon today took the unusual step of posting an open letter apologizing for the extended shortages of its Kindle e-book reader, also explaining the reasons behind the shortfall. Company chief Jeff Bezos notes that the e-paper device has essentially been sold out since just hours after its November launch due demand constantly outpacing production. The company has been repeatedly increasing its ability to make more of the 6-inch e-paper device but has never fast enough to catch up with increased demand, the Amazon head claims.

However, the company hopes to finally address the issue soon. While orders have recently taken as long as six weeks to arrive, the online retailer promises enough supply within the "next few weeks" that the current drought will end. The company hopes to provide the same amount of stock for the Kindle as for any other device it sells. "That's our goal: order today, and we ship today," Bezos says.

The device is often believed to have enjoyed its success both through its exposure on Amazon's pages as well as its Internet features. The Kindle is currently the only e-book reader to include a built-in 3G cellular connection and allows users to access it for free both to download e-books as well as browse the web.